Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has played down the prospect of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez starting the season.

The central defensive duo have not played since last year and are yet to feature in any of the Reds' three pre-season matches.

After the friendly win against Mainz, asked if the pair would feature in the upcoming game post-match, Klopp admitted to LFC TV: "Yeah, it would still be a surprise, unfortunately.

"But they look really good.

"We just have to be patient – we prepare for a full season, not for a pre-season game.

"I will not risk it for a game here, so we have to see," stressed the 54-year-old.

"We have a lot of games still coming, pre-season games, but I don't see them being involved for the next one."